For over five years now companies have been facing a difficult economic climate. It is an environment that increases the risk of focusing on reactive rather than proactive measures, thus limiting the options to rather drastic and short-term interventions. It also means the steady development of organisational capabilities and culture become a luxury in the minds of executive fire-fighters trying to save what is possible in what seems an irreversible decline.

In these critical circumstances support functions in general, and HR development more specifically, are frequently subject to scrutiny and efficiency targets. Their role in analysing and framing issues proactively becomes secondary to supporting existing services and processes with reduced resources.

Intriguingly, all the cases – not just the winners – in the Excellence in Practice Awards competition are going against the tide and focusing on effectiveness and impact in their development projects. And all were successful in bringing an investment focus to learning and development.

The cases also provide interesting reading with respect to the creativity and elasticity of the partners in coping with the pressures and challenges mentioned above.

New formats of risk sharing, mutualising the commitment and inventive partnership constructions have been presented to the competition jury, which more than ever congratulates all contestants on their professionalism, persistence and ingenuity.

As always, we hope the featured cases in this Global Focus supplement will inspire further debate and action.

This year the five category winners were:

Award for Organisational Development Category:EDF & Toulouse School of Economics“Corporate Turnaround: Focusing, Aligning and Building for Success”By David Jestaz (EDF Corporate University for Management) and Thomas-Olivier Leautier (Toulouse School of Economics)

Award for Executive Development Category:Groupe Danone & London Business School“Danone Leading Edge Program – A Leadership Odyssey”By Thierry Bonetto (Groupe Danone) and Linda Irwin (London Business School)